Kuala Lumpur: Twelve hours in a city

If you are a woman, it’s a no brainer. You shop. Considering the shopaholics I was traveling with, that’s what we did mostly.

But admittedly, the place rocks for thrifty high quality shopping. I splurged in Sungei Wang Plaza for clothes, bags including a gorgeous Miu Miu fake for 70 RM and a brand new Blackberry Bold 9700 for 1200 RM. All in under 2 hours.

Berjaya square was another revelation – the mere scale and number of obscure brands overwhelming. We spent another few hours here.

And we had some really funny moments with cab drivers in the city. One was from the airport to a friend’s place we were staying for the night.

We got in. It was freezing cold inside. Rick says,

“Could you lower the AC a bit? It’s freezing”

Cabbie, “Do you want to kill me? I am wearing a suit”

Alright, it was midnight and I was irritated. And that was rude.

“Do YOU want to kill us?”

No response. AC remained at freezing levels.

After fifteen minutes of cruising through dark winding roads, suddenly cops wave him down. He pleads with them for ten minutes and then gets out. We discreetly turn down the AC and the horrible music he was playing.

Fifteen minutes pass, then half an hour.

The group of cops and cabbie argue. Sometimes the cops look at us suspiciously, then back at him. After about 40 minutes of being stranded on an empty highway dead of night, the driver pays them some money, gives them some papers and saunters back in.

Before he opens the door, Rick hurriedly turns the AC back up and the music.

“What was all that about?” I ask.

“Speeding” He says nonchalantly.

“But you were within limits”, Rick says.

“Over 90 is speeding” He says. And soon after he starts the cab, zooms to 120 and speeds off. I roll my eyes at Rich. We couldn’t wait to get off.

Another bad incident was landing up at Hotel Sabrina. For 100 RM a night, the place was a seedy and what looked like a pick up joint. Although, it was right in middle of Bukit Bintang, we gagged when we saw the rooms. Reminds me to never agree to a hotel without reading atleast one review.

What I remember most fondly was Petronas Towers. Every bit regal as in the pictures. Dazzling.

Well, this is now the end. One of my longest, and also most memorable trips with friends.

And again, Happy new year!